Hi Everyone,
I just ordered my Oladra to replace my K50 and pair it with my DCS Rossini Apex DAC and Rossini Clock.
I know that Oladra does clocking differently tto han the K50 (maybe has different frequencies as well).
I am using AES and I am not sure which way of connection is best to achieve optimal sound quality and clocking/least jitter.
Does anyone have any experience or knowledge with this?
Thanks
@GrĂĽnerPapa
I had a K50 for 2.5 years and switched to the Oladra a year ago. The Oladra is connected to Dcs Bartok and Rossini Masterclock. I use the USB connection. AES didn’t sound that good to me, and the master clock only makes sense via USB and network connection, as both are buffered. To use AES effectively with the master clock, the source device would have to have a word clock input and be connected to the master clock (see Dcs manual). I’m happy with the sound, but everyone’s ears are different.
The word clock output on an OLADRA is the same as a K50.
Both are Master, as such not truly compatible with dCS, which like to be the Master.
Both the Antipodes and the dCS have Grade 1 Master Clocks, slaving isn’t really needed.
Mark,just a comment.
If I set the max DAC sampling on Roon, let’s say 44.1.
If I connect the Oladra clock to the clock1 input of the Rossini DCS (44.1), it’s theoretically possible.
Obviously, leaving Roon’s upsampling always active.
Maybe is not more necessary the dCS click.
Bye
In my experience all devices benefit from a quality external clock (Esoteric, Cybershaft. dCS etc).
Seriously, Oladra I figure would also benefit from an external clock input, no matter how good Antipodes thinks their internal clock is.
A classic example is Esoteric (Japan) who arguably make the highest quality crystal oscillators in the world and fit them to their products. Even with these top crystals fitted in their top models they supply a 10MHz BNC clock input connector.
Why, as using a specific Esoteric external clock model gives further numerous audible benefits and is recommended by the company.
Really, Antipodes should be fitting an external 10MHz clock input BNC connector to Oladra and K50.
Anthony
I only have experience with the use of a REF10 SE120 providing a reference clock to an EtherRegen and a Gustard x26pro DAC using Shunyata clock cables. Both devices absolutely gained benefit from the reference clock. But both products got their butt kicked by better products that don’t have a reference clock input (tempus switch, T+A DAC 200).
Selling the REF10 SE120 brought in just enough cash to cover the cost of the used DAC 200. It struck me in hindsight that having thousands of dollars sunk into a reference clock wasn’t the best use of my money.
Manufacturer will prioritize what features can bring the biggest bang for the buck. None of us have any idea how much a reference clock might improve an Oladra or Kala server. Odds are it would help but would there be other capabilities that might benefit more? Only Antipodes themselves can have that perspective.
Ultimately every consumer will decide what selection criteria they have when selecting a product. Most will have their list of check boxes that must be checked. A manufacturer then has to decide which of these check boxes make most sense for them to support. They may ask themselves, for example, how many more Oladras they might sell if the Oladra were to have a reference clock input. My guess is that it would be a small number.